Proponents of Newcastle’s lockout laws say the state government’s interest in repealing the laws is built on misconstrued information.
The calls come after a NSW parliamentary committee recommended a review of Sydney lockout laws introduced in 2014.
State government MPs have suggested relaxing the decade old laws would boost Newcastle’s late night economy.
However, a September report by Ingenium Research for the Council of Capital City Lord Mayors says Newcastle’s bars and pubs account for 14 per cent of the night time economy, almost double NSW and Australian ratios
Alcohol harm prevention campaigner, Tony Brown says repealing the laws would send Newcastle back to “the bloodbath it once was”
Mr Brown claims the parliamentary committee report cherry picked information and was not specific to Newcastle.
“Unfortunately what we’ve seen in the last few days in Newcastle is a bending of the truth,” he said
“The reality is the Sydney parliamentary inquiry term of reference never included Newcastle.”
The Newcastle lockout laws were established in 2008 and still hold the support of Hunter police and medical professionals.
In August last year the NSW Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority (ILGA) published a review into the laws which suggested keeping the current 1.30 AM lockout but did recommend some changes around alcohol service times.
Mr Brown says he’s surprised the government is considering changing the laws just over 12 month on from the ILGA review.
“It’s absolutely crystal clear that the alcohol industry and their bedfellows in politics are behind the threat to reduce Newcastle conditions,” he said.
The law changes are still being considered and unlikely to happen until after a softening of similar laws in Sydney.
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| Image: The Newcastle Herald/ACM |
